Several things you can learn about us (Dustin Rowles, Joanna Robinson and Sarah Carlson) by looking at our Emmy picks: We watch a lot of the same shows, we have a lot of the same favorite actors/characters, and Sarah finally caught up with Breaking Bad this season. Choosing between that excellent drama and the similarly excellent Mad Men is a her version of Sophie’s Choice, but it beats the alternative — a TV landscape filled with unmemorable shows no one cares to award. Sure, the Emmys aren’t perfect and can often get things wrong, but as the Golden Age of TV thrives, the categories only get more competitive.

Another trend among the Pajiba pickers this season is a hope for a break in tradition. Dustin and Joanna would like Bryan Cranston to continue his Best Actor in a Drama Series reign, but Sarah is rooting for Jon Hamm. Let Hamm have it this round, then give Cranston the statue for the final half of Season Five. Or does Mad Men really need to run for two more seasons just so it can have an Emmy year in which it doesn’t go against Breaking Bad? (Update: It will.) Joanna and Sarah also are rooting for Elisabeth Moss as Lead Actress in a Drama Series, Claire Danes and her cry face be d. (OK, fine, Danes is great.) And Daily Show with Jon Stewart? Let Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert have a chance, will ya?

Will favorites such as Amy Poehler finally bring home an Emmy? Will Modern Family inexplicably continue to win most of the Comedy categories? Tune in Sunday to find out, and check back here that night for a rundown of the ceremony.

I don't really care who wins, as long as Courtney live blogs this shit.

No pressure, Courtney.

Mel C.

Still upset Olyphant didn't at least get a nomination. I thought he did his best work this season. ELEVATOR SCENE, PEOPLE!

Lovely Bones

Having not yet started Justified (I know, I know, shame on me) the only contexts I have for elevator scene are Drive and one of Hank's panic attacks on Breaking Bad. But I agree with you, that scene was great!

Mel C.

Haha. Slightly different from the elevator scene in Drive, but just as memorable!

Michelle

Amy Poehler must win.

Also, I'm probably late to the party on this, but I just watched Political Animals and I really want Sigourney Weaver to get SOMETHING for what she did there. I thought she was fantastic, even if the show tended toward melodrama in some parts.

BrokenWindows

I love Elisabeth Moss for Lead Actress, but damn if Robin Wright wasn't fantastic in House of Cards. She was one of the highlights of that show for me.

Aside from that, I think Breaking Bad needs to sweep it's categories.

Ruby

As good as Dinklage is, he had very little screen time this season and less of a character arc of say Jaime and less dramatic scenes as Tywin. I think they're picked Dinklage as their guy therefore they not going to bother nominating any else from GOTs.

St

Vera Farmiga must win. End of story. Also - when they will start giving Amy Poehler awards. I only remember how she is nominated every year. But they always give it away to someone else.

I'd like to see Jonathan Banks win this time. Aaron Paul is indeed amazing, but he's much more deserving for what he's been doing in the back eight. Mike the Cleaner's impact on the show and on the viewers was so, so powerful.

DarthCorleone

Bah! Go, Game Of Thrones! This will be the best chance for the fantasy genre to finally break through in the ultimately meaningless but still highly visible and influential awards arena. Let the Breaking Bad supreme coronation happen next year.

Tinkerville

I would truly love to believe that Amy Poehler will finally win this year, but she seems to get slighted every time, which breaks my heart. I have a feeling they'll either give it to Tina Fey since 30 Rock ended or Lena Fucking Dunham.

TheOtherGreg

I don't think it is acceptable to call the current age of anything "The Golden Age". That is something that can only happen when one is looking back. However, I agree with the sentiment - TV is better than ever.

Artemis

Thinking about it, Jane Krakowski is the inevitable loss that's probably going to hurt me the most. Even in the worst moments of that show, she was the one consistent bright spot. At least with the other categories I can see an argument for someone other than my favorite (Cranston vs. Hamm vs. Lewis, C.K. vs. Bateman, anyone at all from lead actress in a comedy and anyone except Britton for lead actress in a drama). But Krakowski is in one of the weakest categories and she'll still never win an Emmy because for the third time in a row she's going to lose out to Julie Bowen.

(Also, I like Veep, but there's no way this season was better than 30 Rock's final season. It rebounded in a big way at the end, and I'd kind of like to see it win best comedy.)

Lost Hope

I just hope Julie Bowen doesn't win her third Emmy for falling down a lot in "Modern Family" and making a funny face.

And yet, she will. "Modern Family" is safe, goes-down-smooth, middle-of-the-road fare, the "Miss Congeniality" of shows (as in the role, not the movie). Middle(-of-the-road) America thinks it's edgy because it's got a gay family, but the show is about as edgy as America's Funniest Home Videos. I have nothing against these actors, but it'd be nice to see people rewarded for taking a chance and acting their asses off, instead of earning Nielsen ratings and ad revenues.

John W

The only disagreement I have is regarding best "actor" in a comedy series for Louis CK.

Is Louie a funny show? Yes. Does it have good writing? Yes.

BUT Louis CK is playing Louis CK he's not doing any acting.

If he is deserving of an award for acting then we need to go back and shower Jerry Seinfeld with Emmys for best actor in Seinfeld.

dizzylucy

There are some great shows and performances out there, but I just don't see anything coming close to the work being doing on Breaking Bad.

Aside from that I still can't get over that Goggins doesn't have an Emmy and has only been nominated once, and that Tatiana got ignored this year.

BWeaves

Downton Abbey is a drama? BWA-HAHAHAHHAHA

I guess they don't have a melodrama category.

alwaysanswerb

Shocked to see that not one of you picked Tatiana Maslany for biggest slight! I thought she was pretty well campaigned for 'round these parts...

Guest

How quickly Pajiba forgets....

mrsdalgliesh

So much this. Did our benevolent overlords miss the series??

lowercase_ryan

This, a MILLION times this. I feel that this in itself is a slight on top of the nomination slight.

I think any "slight" should be structured like - A is more deserving than B who got nominated. Supporting Actor and Drama Series are two of the most stacked categories in the whole thing. And while I don't necessarily disagree with your picks (Downton shouldn't be on any of these lists), the most glaring slight/snub of the year is Vera Farmiga over Tatiana. That's just criminal and makes me think someone bought that nomination.

alwaysanswerb

At least she won an EWwy.

AvaLehra

LEAD ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIEI've got two words for you: sparkly thong. Or 1,000 if you want to go this route:

yesknopemaybe

I clearly need to watch this.

Maguita NYC

You really do. The imagery of Damon topping Douglas would fill you with such emotional glee and what-the-fuckness, you would need second viewing to osmose it all.

AvaLehra

Rob Lowe as Dr. Startz is worth the price of admission.

e jerry powell

Except that you know they needed to have a three-way with Startz, Lee, and Scott even though it never happened in real life. BECAUSE.

IngridToday

I don't ever want to not be watching this movie.

Maguita NYC

hmm. I don't ever want to not understand what you mean by this :)

e jerry powell

There's only so many bunks on this ship.

Classic

Hmm I agree with all of these except the Girls direction one.

Bananaranma

I'd throw out there that since it is last year's shows (cut off May 31st), Red Wedding Game of Thrones has a solid shot at upsetting Breaking Bad.

You know Modern Family's going to win that thing. You know it, I know it, my guinea pig knows it. It makes a shit ton of money and Hollywood loves to congratulate itself, and that show has two gay guys! And a latina! IT'S SO PROGRESSIVE.

Aaron Paul deserves his win. He is by far the best part of that show. Honestly, he's the one part I actually enjoy.